Andrew Muir
North Down · Alliance Party · Northern Ireland
“Thank you very much, Mr Deputy Speaker. As Minister, I am grateful to the Chair of the Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Committee and to Members from all sides of the Chamber for their consideration of the Bill and their contributions to the debate, which have been valuable and useful.”
“I will write to you with regard to your query. <BR /> <BR />The other issue, as I said, is reporting pollution incidents so that they can be effectively investigated. There is a duty on everyone to do that promptly.”
“Aquaculture provides real economic opportunities, and the Bill will help ensure that those opportunities are realised responsibly without compromising the environment. Importantly, the Bill includes transitional provisions so that existing licences can continue seamlessly as aquaculture licences, with their conditions unchanged.”
“That is not about being punitive for its own sake; it is about ensuring that the legal framework reflects the true value of our natural resources and the importance of protecting them for future generations.”
“<BR /> <BR />On strengthening the regulation of inland waters, the Bill modernises long-standing powers under the Fisheries Act (Northern Ireland) 1966, ensuring that they are fit for today's environmental and industry challenges. That matters because fisheries management today goes far beyond simply catching fish.”
“<BR /> <BR />A full regulatory impact assessment of the financial impact has been completed. It concluded that the Bill does not introduce significant new financial burdens and that any costs are outweighed by the long-term benefits.”
The complete record
Every one of 4,733 lines we hold for Andrew Muir, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 8 of 95.
“The action that we are trying to take on climate change is about getting off the fossil fuel roller coaster so that people are not subjected to those price increases. The message that I would send to everyone in Northern Ireland, particularly our farming community is this: we are with you. It is important that the UK Government step up. They have the fiscal firepower to deliver support, particularly with fuel and energy, and it is important that they step up. <BR /> <BR />As Minister, I am committed to continuing to deliver our sustainable agriculture programme and to working with the farming community to deliver a thriving, resilient and environmentally sustainable future. The challenges that the agriculture community in particular faces with fertiliser prices are of concern to me, and we will continue to work with stakeholders on that.”
“As the Member will be aware, we deliver support through the food programme. He will also be aware of our budget situation and the challenges associated with that and with previous decisions that were taken to ensure that we manage our budget appropriately. I am very aware of the benefit that rural shows have for the rural community in Northern Ireland. It is important that we recognise that in future rural policy for Northern Ireland and that all Departments have a role to play. The agricultural shows that take place across Northern Ireland enable the rural community to get together, and it is important that other Departments consider their role in that.”
“The seabird conservation strategy — I checked this before I came here — is on its way to my desk, so it should be here imminently. I will promptly consider it, and, hopefully, we can then publish it. It is a good piece of work, and it is important that we get it out and deliver actions on it in conjunction with our stakeholders, particularly the RSPB but also more broadly, because a wide range of people are committed to the same goal that we seek to achieve, which is a thriving environment.”
“There is lots that we can learn from it. First, we should recognise the importance of working together and thank the RSPB in particular for its work in conjunction with the community. It has been a collective effort, and I am proud of the community in Rathlin for what it has managed to achieve. It is also about understanding the importance of biosecurity, which has been elevated. It is important that we keep it at that level to ensure that we do not have any further incursions. <BR /> <BR />This is a positive moment for Northern Ireland. It is something that we should be proud of and that shows what we can achieve by working together.”
“It will include a ban on specific aversive training devices, the regulation of rescue and rehoming organisations, strengthening microchipping requirements for dogs, a call for evidence on the mandatory microchipping of pet cats, and dog licence fees. A lot of action needs to be taken. We lost two years of the mandate but we are seeking to catch up on legislation around that.”
“The animal welfare pathway sets out a number of actions that we are seeking to take, largely in relation to companion animals. Actions are also taking place, not just within the pathway but in addition to it, in relation to farmed animals. It is important that I give an assurance that that is a priority for me and my Department in relation to TB but also in relation to, for example, the issues associated with bluetongue, avian influenza and other areas where we need to take action on animal welfare and managing disease. <BR /> <BR />Specifically in relation to companion animals, we are taking forward legislation associated with Lucy's law. That will be coming to the Committee very soon. We will be commencing a consultation to get views on the issue. Correspondence on that will be going to the Committee very soon.”
“Thank you, David. That is an important issue, and it has been raised with me regularly. That is why it is part of the animal welfare pathway. The expert review is finalising its work. That report will come to me soon. I will consider it and then publish it in the next few weeks. Once the report is published, we will have to give consideration to the implementation of its recommendations and the prioritisation that comes with that. We will want to engage with stakeholders on that and get their views on a key issue on which I get regular correspondence.”
“I will engage with you and get a bit more information about that. We need to scope it out. If actions are required, we will not be found wanting. We need to follow proper process, but safety must be paramount.”
“Thank you, Gareth. I am aware of the concerns around that, and I am glad that you were able to have that constructive engagement last week. If you want to have a chat with me about that later today, I am happy to do so, because the safety of pedestrians and park users must always be paramount.”
“Evidence is demonstrating a deterioration of water quality in Belfast lough. Nutrient contamination in Belfast lough is damaging the shellfish water protected area, reducing both the quality and the market value of local shellfish, and posing risks to the sustainability of the shellfish sector.”
“The situation is stark. Our rivers, lakes and loughs are under mounting and unacceptable pressures. Only 29% of our surface water bodies now achieve good ecological status, which is a deterioration since 2011. Northern Ireland Water has reported that more than 20 million tons of untreated sewage and waste water spill into waterways every year, with storm overflows discharging over 24,500 times annually. Waste water and sewage discharges have significant environmental consequences that extend into the wider economy, affecting new development, public health, fisheries, industry, recreation and tourism. The impacts of excess nutrients are already evident, including three successive summers of blue-green algae blooms in Lough Neagh and the likelihood that that will occur again this year.”
“The situation that is occurring in Northern Ireland, where we are having sewage pumped into our waterways, is wrong. It is a disgrace, and it is important that people back me in the actions that I am trying to take to strengthen regulation enforcement around sewage pollution.”
“<BR /> <BR />Those interventions include introducing the fisheries and water environment Bill to strengthen fines and penalties; reviewing the sentences for environmental offences through the Department of Justice's planned sentencing review; a proposal for the Northern Ireland Environment Agency to withdraw from the statement of regulatory principles and intent (SORPI) administrative arrangement with Northern Ireland Water; seeking Executive agreement to designate the shellfish water protected area as a sensitive area under the Urban Waste Water Treatment Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007; reviewing and updating standards within discharge consents; and introducing waste water regulatory reforms to improve compliance and compliance reporting.”
“Thank you, Kate. In my oral statement on waste water regulation, delivered to the House at the beginning of March, I set out a number of key interventions to strengthen the regulation and enforcement of waste water activities and to reduce pollution across our water environment.”
“The question back is this: when will the DUP admit to the folly of climate change denial? People are suffering the consequences of Northern Ireland being subject to the fossil fuel roller coaster and the impact that that has on fuel and gas prices for the citizens and businesses of Northern Ireland. We need to get off that roller coaster and take climate action and let people benefit from it.”
“I am very conscious that this matter is in front of the courts, as I set out in last week's debate. I will have to be careful in my response because I want to respect the legal process that is under way. <BR /> <BR />I am very clear about the benefits associated with climate action. I do not want to see Northern Ireland left behind. We now have a situation where China, for example, is the largest exporter of EVs. We are also very conscious of the benefits of clean local energy for citizens in Northern Ireland, and that is why it is important that we give certainty to businesses. The legislation was passed unanimously in the House back in 2022, and it is important that we respect the democratic mandate of the House and continue to take action on climate change, which is what I am seeking to do.”
“Part of it will be a requirement to publish an inland fisheries policy statement, and that will be really important so that we are able to look at the challenges facing the fishing sector today and in making sure that there is a level playing field for everyone. That is why we are standardising fines and penalties and bringing ourselves in line with our colleagues in the rest of the UK. It is long-awaited legislation, and, hopefully, it will get to the House as soon as possible so that we can complete the associated scrutiny.”
“Thank you, Kellie. The fisheries and water environment Bill is a key piece of legislation. It is being drafted, and I hope to be able to bring it to the House for its Second Stage before the summer recess, allowing Committee Stage to then commence. The legislation is important because we are operating on outdated legislation from 1966. It is important that we bring the legislation in line with modern operating practices and that we modernise fines and penalties and standardise those in line with our colleagues in Great Britain. It is important legislation, and many stakeholders are asking for it. Hopefully, we will get it to the House before summer recess and that scrutiny can take place because the delivery of legislation is what the House should be focused on, particularly for our inland fishing sector.”
“We are also not going to jump on the bandwagon of rejecting science and evidence, which your party does daily.”
“If the Member cared to read the climate action plan, he would realise that it does not; that we are not following the advice of the CCC; and that we are working with farmers to give that thriving, resilient and environmentally sustainable future. That is what we are doing. It is important that we recognise the course that we are following on that. We are committed to climate action, and we are committed to a just transition.”
“That is what I intend to do, rather than parrot the Trump playbook that the DUP is obsessed with.”
“As I set out in response to the supplementary question from Peter McReynolds, there are clear benefits associated with climate action. The Climate Change Committee consistently reports on that. Requirements are also in place in 'Managing Public Money' for any expenditure in government, as everyone well knows. <BR /> <BR />The issue here with people pushing the mantra that climate action can be deferred and is something that we should not take defies belief, frankly. We are seeing, yet again, a fossil fuel crisis, where people are being pushed into fuel poverty. We are at the behest of dictatorships for the supply of oil and gas. We want to take climate action so that we get off that fossil fuel roller coaster and have a decarbonised society that everyone benefits from.”
“I can, because the issue of just transition runs through the Climate Change Act, which was passed unanimously by the House in 2022. I believe in a just transition. We are setting up the just transition commission to ensure that those voices are heard and no one is left behind. It will be the first time that such a commission has been set up in law in the UK and Ireland.”
“Those findings are relevant for Northern Ireland, because inaction would increase our exposure to climate impacts, such as more frequent and extreme weather; increased flooding; and risks to food and energy security. Delay also increases the risk of higher future costs. By contrast, taking forward a planned route through the climate action plan supports a fair and just transition, enabling people and business to adapt in a manageable way. The benefits of acting now are lower energy bills over time; improved energy security; new green jobs and skills; and greater resilience in farming and rural communities. It helps to ensure that the transition delivers economic, social and environmental benefits for Northern Ireland, including protection for the most vulnerable.”
“The Climate Change Committee's cost-benefit analysis reinforces the message that early, well-planned action is economically preferable to delay and that the cost of inaction would be significant and rising for households, farmers and businesses. In particular, the report highlights that a single fossil fuel price shock can cost as much as delivering the recommended route to net zero, underscoring the economic risk of continued exposure to volatile fossil fuel markets. <BR /> <BR />Not acting on climate change will cost the UK between £10 billion and £20 billion per year by 2050, and, for every pound invested in climate action, the benefits outweigh that by 2·2 to 4·1 times.”
“Whilst work continues to finalise the first climate action plan for publication, it is important to note that work on a more ambitious second climate action plan is already under way, reflecting the scale of the long-term challenge, as set out in the Climate Change Act (Northern Ireland) 2022. A low-carbon future will bring multiple benefits that will be achieved only by working together.”
“Work is well advanced on finalising Northern Ireland's first climate action plan, following the completion of the public consultation and recent publication of the summary of responses on the DAERA website. Responses highlighted strong support for climate action, alongside clear expectations of fairness, affordability and deliverability. The climate action plan is a significant, cross-cutting statutory document that will provide clarity on how we will cut emissions, improve our environment and achieve sustainable growth in a way that is just and fair for all. It is therefore my intention to bring the climate action plan to the Executive for consideration before the summer recess.”
“Vacancy rates in my Department is the biggest issue inhibiting me from fulfilling statutory services and delivering on many Members' priorities. We have over 800 vacancies in the Department. It is important that they be filled. The Northern Ireland Audit Office (NIAO) report on Civil Service resourcing is relevant. I have no doubt that the Public Accounts Committee will pick up on the fact that the average time taken to fill vacancies is seven months. That needs to be addressed so that we can ensure that we have the right people in the right posts to deliver for the people of Northern Ireland.”
“That is a good relationship. We have flexible working arrangements in Northern Ireland for Northern Ireland Civil Service staff, and I am glad that Jubilee House is part of that.”
“I am conscious of the resource that we have in Jubilee House and its importance for achieving regional balance. As for increasing occupancy levels in the building, with the implementation of hybrid working it is a requirement for staff to attend the workplace for 40% of their contractual working hours each week. That reduced the space that my Department needed in Jubilee House. Consequently, my Department implemented arrangements with the Department for Communities and the Department of Finance to maximise building usage. We are seeking to make sure that everyone is able to use the building. As the Member knows, the Department for Communities is on the second floor, which will enable it to deliver a wider creation of jobs in the services that it delivers on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions in Great Britain.”
“DFC has an average weekly occupancy of 77% for its accommodation, while monthly occupancy averaged 17% between March 2025 and February 2026 for the Department of Finance's NICS Connect2 hub.”
“Jubilee House currently has 358 workstations available. They include 187 for DAERA staff; 145 for Department for Communities staff, who occupy the second floor; and a further 26 that are provided in the Department of Finance's Connect2 hub, which is located on the ground floor and is available to all Northern Ireland Civil Service (NICS) staff. <BR /> <BR />Daily occupancy is not monitored by DAERA, as workstations are allocated to DAERA business groups and managed in line with the hybrid working policy. A workstation booking app is available to assist that process. While its use is encouraged, it is not mandatory. Occupation levels therefore cannot be confirmed using the booking app data. The booking app data indicates, however, that, on average, 51% of available workstations were booked by DAERA staff each month.”
“<BR /> <BR />If there are particular issues in the Member's constituency, I am happy to consider them in correspondence and follow them up with the relevant Ministers.”
“I am conscious of the impact that coastal erosion has on local communities. As the Member knows, it is a cross-cutting issue, and that is why we need to designate a Department and legislate for that. In the existing framework, responsibility for infrastructure such as sea walls, roads and harbours sits with the Department for Infrastructure, which manages and maintains those assets and carries out repairs and assessments, such as those in Donaghadee, where damage occurred recently. I highlight the need for everyone, including councils, to work together. We have to take a holistic approach, part of which involves nature-based solutions. We are conscious not only of the costs associated with hard infrastructure but of how it potentially moves the problem down the coast.”
“Steps are set out in NICCAP for the designation of that Department. It is important that that take place. It will also require legislation, which will have to be taken forward in the next mandate. A number of actions need to be taken forward, and we seek to do that collaboratively across government and with stakeholders.”
“The most fundamental thing that we can do, however, is to acknowledge that there is a climate change problem rather than continue to deny it.”
“By way of a response to the Speaker, I am happy to take question 12 separately, if that is so desired. <BR /> <BR />I find it a bit rich for the DUP to lecture me on climate change when the actions that I am trying to take to address the impacts of climate change have been stymied by its Department again and again. The climate change adaptation programme sat in the Executive for months before I could get agreement to publish it. <BR /> <BR />We are seeking to take action on the issue. The institutions did not sit for two years, so I am seeking to catch up on the progress that should have been made. We are clear about the impact of climate change around Northern Ireland. We seek to take forward the climate change adaptation programme and deal with the issues associated with coastal erosion.”
“<BR /> <BR />The climate change adaptation programme also outlines the role that nature-based solutions can perform in coastal areas, where blue carbon habitats such as salt marsh, seagrass, kelp forests and mussel beds not only store carbon but improve coastal resilience by reducing wave energy and help to limit erosion and storm impacts. More broadly, actions to restore peatlands, woodlands, grasslands and healthy soils reduce flood risk by slowing and storing water, while nature-based solutions in urban areas, such as sustainable drainage systems and urban greening, help to manage surface water and reduce heat impacts.”
“<BR /> <BR />As witnessed again this winter, coastal communities and infrastructure are already experiencing the impacts of climate change. Those impacts underline the urgent need for action that is set out in the third Northern Ireland climate change adaptation programme (NICCAP), which was published last month. The programme includes actions on coastal resilience that take account of the Climate Change Committee's (CCC) recommendation that the Executive consider introducing legislation on coastal change and the designation of responsibility to a Department.”
“Mr Speaker, with your permission, I will group questions 3 and 12. <BR /> <BR />Since becoming Minister, I have had regular engagement on coastal management issues, including meetings with stakeholders, briefings from my officials and discussions with the Minister for Infrastructure. <BR /> <BR />The coastal forum is a collaborative partnership involving local councils, the National Trust, my Department and the Department for Infrastructure, supported by an effective working group that continues to deliver the agreed work programme. Key achievements include a £2·5 million investment by my Department in coastal evidence gathering, resulting in complete coverage of the coastline. Building on that collaboration, partners have also secured €9·6 million from the PEACE PLUS programme for the coastal monitoring and adaptation planning project.”
“It is the first one in the UK that involves non-governmental organisations working with government. It is a collective approach. We also need to take action through the climate action plan for Northern Ireland. It is important that we recognise that.”
“Good work is being done in the Belfast hills by environmental organisations, and I thank them for that, because that helps us with the management of those areas. It is important to say that a number of the actions in the wildfire action plan cut across the whole of Northern Ireland. I am very conscious of the impact that wildfires have had. They have been in the news, they have affected local communities, and we need to build resilience. <BR /> <BR />The issues that are associated with wildfires in Northern Ireland are not unconnected with the issue of climate change. Weather patterns are changing, and places are more susceptible to wildfires. That is why we also want to take action in relation to climate change, and it is why we have published a climate adaptation plan for Northern Ireland.”
“Thank you, Patsy. The action plan, which is on the Department's website, sets out the various actions that we are going to take forward. We can take those forward at a faster pace if we have the resources to do so; that links to budget and resourcing. There are two fundamental actions that can be taken on enforcement. First, where people are aware of cases that could result in enforcement action, it is about them reporting those promptly and being prepared to give witness statements. Secondly, we have committed to looking at the relevant legislation, and we will review its effectiveness. We need to ascertain whether the legislation needs to be changed or whether we need to do more to encourage people to come forward to give evidence, so that we can bring cases to trial.”
“Thank you, Diane. That is a constructive comment, which I will take back to my colleagues and to the Fire and Rescue Service. A key element of the wider action plan is a community response, because the community will know the situation on the ground, and, collectively, we can be much stronger in how we turn a situation around. I will take that back. <BR /> <BR />The weather is starting to improve, and that is when worries arise about the risk of wildfires in Northern Ireland. We are all united in our message today, which is to urge people to be cautious in the countryside. If anyone is aware of someone deliberately setting malicious fires, I urge them to report that to the police. That behaviour harms our environment but also puts people, their houses and their businesses at risk.”
“I am conscious that a private Member's Bill is going through its scrutiny process, and I know that the AERA Committee will actively engage in that regard. There is a case for conditionality to be associated with those payments in order to drive towards the desired outcomes. The key intervention that will assist with the issues that the Member outlined is the Farming with Nature package. We are continuing to roll that out in Northern Ireland, and it is important that we do that.”
“An investigation will also be undertaken to gain insights into the drivers and causes of wildfires across the Mournes.”
“Thank you, Andy. The project will produce plans that will lead to increased resilience to wildfires in the Mournes and reduce the risk of significant wildfire spread. That will provide benefits for the biodiversity, landscape, land managers and recreational users of the Mournes. Specific outcomes will include detailed wildfire management plans for the eastern Mournes ASSI and SAC, based on the ecology of the Mournes, the wildfire risk assessment and wildfire spread modelling, which will inform interventions. That will be combined with a complementary emergency response plan to assist with wildfire response should such incidents occur. Similar work will be undertaken in the Western Mournes and Kilfeaghan Upper ASSI to advise on interventions.”
“The project will involve engagement with local landowners and a range of stakeholders, including the Fire and Rescue Service, the Ulster Farmers’ Union, Northern Ireland Water, Forest Service and other stakeholders and NGOs. To further assist the landscapes of the Mournes, my Department is supporting a range of projects to restore its peatlands, control erosion, repair paths and assist with wildfire recovery from previous fires. Alongside land management, I am very keen to enhance enforcement for rural arson, and I advise and urge that if anyone sees someone lighting such fires in the countryside, they should report it immediately to the police.”
“Key actions in the plan that will assist with land management in the Mournes include developing wildfire management and response plans for the eastern Mournes area of special scientific interest (ASSI) and special area of conservation (SAC); developing guidance about land management practices that would reduce the likelihood and impact of wildfires; and ensuring that wildfire awareness and management courses are available. <BR /> <BR />Some of that work has already been initiated. For example, my Department recently appointed a consortium of international wildfire experts to deliver a range of wildfire mitigation and management work across Northern Ireland, including wildfire management and response plans for the eastern Mournes.”
“On 2 April, I launched the wildfire action plan to accompany 'Wildfires in Northern Ireland: Strategic Framework 2025-2030'. The action plan contains time-bound actions for each of the 35 key areas of development identified in the strategic framework, covering strategic objectives of wildfire prevention, preparedness, response, recovery and enforcement. The actions will be delivered collectively across a range of wildfire stakeholders.”